Tree, Basil Gordon
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Basil Gordon |
Surname | Tree |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | DFM |
Date of Death | 28-09-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Emily Tree. Husband of Joyce Elizabeth Tree, of Cottingham. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Airspeed Oxford I |
Serial Number | V4035 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Cottingham Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. A. Grave 218. |
Epitaph | FOR LIFE IS ETERNAL; AND LOVE IS IMMORTAL |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 108 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 117991 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 93 |
Squadron | 1507 Bat Flt |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Miscellaneous Information
In an Enquiry into the accident the Wg Cdr 25OTU concluded : “There was no evidence to prove that any technical failure occurred in the main transmitter or the receiving set in the aircraft. Eye witnesses are of the opinion that the approach of the aircraft was too low. The faulty approach must be attributed to an error on the part of the Instructor PO Tree. He was known to be a steady and reliable pilot but it is possible that his experience on the beam had been gained by concentrated flying in a comparatively space of time, and this may have produced a feeling of over confidence. It was likely that the two pilots would not have sustained fatal injuries, had they been strapped in.” |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-09-1942 |
End Date | 28-09-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Finningley |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Training-beam approach in fog |
Reason for Loss | The crew of this aircraft were undertaking a training flight which included practicing beam flying in the foggy conditions that were present on this day. As it approached Finningley airfield in the fog it was flying low. The aircraft hit a tree and crashed on the approach to land at Finningley airfield at 09.35hrs |